Apparatus for protecting a smart device

ABSTRACT

A removable pad kit for a smart device, such as an iPhone®, an iPad®, a Samsung Galaxy®, a Samsung Galaxy Tab®, or the like, is disclosed. The removable kit may comprise a removable pad. The removable pad is configured to at least partially cover a home button, or the like, of the smart device to protect the home button and prevent accidental or intentional tapping on the home button.

TECHNICAL HELD

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to portableelectronic devices, and more particularly, to removable pads andprotective cases disposed on the portable electronic devices.

BACKGROUND

In the past few years, the rate of smart device adoption isaccelerating. According to Gartner in their report dated May 19, 2011,worldwide smart device sales to end users totaled over 100 million unitsin the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 85 percent year-to-year.The availability of digital application distribution platforms was a bigcontribution to this growth. Many end users purchase smart devices forthe purpose of using business applications, educational applications,games, and other applications available on the smart devices. As of Jun.6, 2011, there are at least 425,000 third-party applications officiallyavailable on the App Store®.

Many smart devices use a multi-touch interface, which has a touch screenfor direct finger input as its main means for interaction instead ofhaving a keyboard and/or a keypad. Common resolutions for smart devicescreens vary from 240×320 to 768×1024, with many flagship smart devicesat 768×1024. As a result, the touch screen can be very sensitive to evenaccidental taps on the screen.

One problem with some flagship smart devices, such as iPhone®, iPad®,Samsung Galaxy®, Samsung Galaxy Tab® etc., is that there is a physicalhome button near its touch screen or a home button on its touch screen.An accidental tap on the home button can terminate businessapplications, educational applications, games or applications that anend user is using. For example, a child using an educational applicationon a smart device may accidentally tap a home button, or tap the homebutton against the intentions of the parents. When that happens, thesmart device's display automatically switches to a home screen, and thechild may have difficulties in finding and going back to the educationalapplication, contrary to the educational intention of the parents. Asanother example, multiple devices may be distributed to a group ofstudents by a single educator with the intent of using a specificeducational application. Many of the students may intentionally pressthe home button against the wishes of the educator. As a furtherexample, devices may be distributed to a group of employees for a singlespecific business purpose, and the employees may use the home button touse the device for non-work related purposes.

SUMMARY

The present inventor has recognized that there is a need in preventingaccidental tapping on the home button, and there is an additional needto lock or prevent access to the home button. Accordingly, the presentdisclosure provides a means for a smart-device, such as iPhone®, iPad®,Samsung Galaxy®, Samsung Galaxy Tab®, or the like, to prevent accidentaltapping on the home button. The present disclosure also provides a meansfor the same list of smart devices to have the home button locked fromcasual access.

According to a broad aspect of a preferred embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a removable pad kit is provided. The removable pad kit maycomprise a removable pad. The removable pad is configured to at leastpartially cover a home button, or the like, of a smart device andprotect the home button from accidental tapping. In some instances, asmart device is provided with a sliding or other locking mechanism thatallows a user to cover and/or lock the home button(s) of the smartdevice to prevent a user from accessing the home button. Such a lockingmechanism may be configured as part of a protective case of such a smartdevice or may be specifically built targeting the area of the homebutton. In some instances, such as in the first example illustrated inthe background, a protective case or a special fitting may include alocking/unlocking feature, a feature to connect that locking/unlockingfeature to the smart device, and/or a toggle feature to allow a user toswitch the locking/unlocking mechanism to switch or toggle from a lockedposition to an unlocked position. In some instances, an optional slidelock feature allows a user to prevent access to the toggle or thelocking/unlocking feature by providing a padlock or other such mechanismto “lock” the toggle feature. Such an optional slide lock feature may beused when some users (e.g., institutions or corporations) wish todistribute the smart device to a user for educational or businesspurposes but do not want the user to have any access to the homebutton—accidentally or intentionally. In some instances, instead of apadlock-type mechanism, the toggle lock or the slide lock feature maysimply be any type of child-proof mechanism (example, a lock that wouldrequire a stylus pen clip to open) that a child would not be able toeasily overcome. It is understood that other similar features andadditions, as may be envisioned by a person of ordinary skill in theart, may also be substituted with the various features discussed abovewith the focus of achieving the purpose of this invention, namely inproviding an external and removable feature that allows a person to lockor otherwise preclude access to one or more home buttons of a smartdevice.

Other advantages and features will become apparent from the followingdescription and claims. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated by wayof example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanyingdrawings, in which like references indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a removable pad disposed ontoan iPhone® or an iPad® in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view illustrating a flip-up lid disposed onto aniPhone® or an iPad® in accordance with another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2B is an isometric view illustrating a sliding lid disposed onto aniPhone® or an iPad® in accordance with yet another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2C is an isometric view illustrating of a sliding lid disposed ontoan iPhone® or an iPad® in accordance with yet another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2D is an isometric view illustrating a rolling lid disposed onto aniPhone® or an iPad® in accordance with yet another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view illustrating a removable pad disposed onto aSamsung Galaxy® or a Samsung Galaxy Tab® in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is an isometric view illustrating a flip-up lid disposed onto aSamsung Galaxy® or a Samsung Galaxy Tab® in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is an isometric view illustrating a sliding lid disposed onto aSamsung Galaxy® or a Samsung Galaxy Tab® in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4C is an isometric view illustrating a sliding lid disposed onto aSamsung Galaxy® or a Samsung Galaxy Tab® in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4D is an isometric view illustrating a rolling lid disposed onto aSamsung Galaxy® or a Samsung Galaxy Tab® in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view illustrating a removable pad disposed ontoan iPad® in accordance with yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6A is an isometric view illustrating a flip-up lid disposed onto aniPad® in accordance with yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6B is an isometric view illustrating a sliding lid disposed onto aniPad® in accordance with yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6C is an isometric view illustrating a sliding lid disposed onto aniPad® in accordance with yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6D is an isometric view illustrating a rolling lid disposed onto aniPad® in accordance with yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7A is an isometric view illustrating a protective case having asliding home button cover and a casual locking mechanism on an iPhone®or an iPad® in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7B and 7C is an isometric view illustrating a protective casehaving a sliding home button cover and lock-and-key locking mechanism onan iPhone® or an iPad® in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

References in this specification to “an embodiment”, “one embodiment”,or the like, mean that the particular feature, structure orcharacteristic being described is included in at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Occurrences of such phrases in thisspecification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

As indicated in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present disclosure includesa removable pad kit 100 for an iPhone® or an iPad® 10, or the like. Forexample, when it comes to playing games or other applications on thesmart device 10, users may put the removable pad kit 100 onto the smartdevice 10 easily, which then at least partially covers a home button140, or the like, of the smart device 10. Users may then enjoy playinggames or other applications without worrying about being disturbed byaccidentally tapping on the home button 140, or the like. In someimplementations, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the home button is physicallyseparated from a display portion of the smart device 10. In someimplementations, the home button is located within a display portion ofthe smart device 10. In some embodiments, the pad kit 100 is held inposition on the smart device 10 using, for example, an adhesive or othersuch attaching means as may be known to a person of ordinary skill inthe art.

The material of the removable pad kit 100 may include, but is notlimited to, rubber, silicone rubber, resins, plastic resins, polymer,synthetic materials, or the like. In addition, the material of theremovable pad kit 100 may have elastic properties and/or be flexible toenable a snug fit with the smart device 10 and match the aestheticappearance of the smart device 10.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the removable padkit 100 may include a carrying case 220 that fits onto at least aportion of the smart device 10. The carrying case 220 fits the smartdevice 10. The removable pad kit 100 may comprise a flip-up lid 230. Theflip-up lid 230 may have one end as a pivot that is, for example,mechanically connected to the carrying case 220 with the other endcapable of flipping up and down relative to the smart device 10. Usersmay choose to put the flip-up lid 230 down onto the smart device 10,which then at least partially covers the home button 140, or the like,of the smart device. In some implementations, the flip-up lid 230 may beeasily detachable from the carrying case 220. In some implementations,the flip-up lid 230 may be, for example, a Velcro strap. In someimplementations, the flip-up lid 230 may be connected to the carryingcase 220 by a living hinge or the like. When the flip-up lid 230 isflipped up away from the smart device 10, it may serve as a leg or astand to support the smart device in an upright vertical or verticalorientation.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the removable padkit 100 may include a carrying case 220 for the smart device 10. Theremovable pad kit 100 may comprise a sliding lid 240. Users may chooseto slide the sliding lid 240 onto the smart device 10 to at leastpartially cover the home button 140, or the like, of the smart device10. In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the removablepad kit 100 may comprise a slide lid 250. The slide lid 250 may be slidfrom side to side onto the smart device 10 to at least partially coverthe home button 140, or the like, of the smart device 10. In someimplementations, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, the removable pad 100 maycomprise a rolling lid 260. Users may choose to roll the rolling lid 260onto the smart device 10 to at least partially cover the home button140, or the like, of the smart device 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present disclosureincludes a removable pad kit 300 for a Samsung Galaxy®, a Samsung GalaxyTab® 30, or the like. For example, when an end user is playing games orusing other applications on the smart device 30, the user may put theremovable pad 300 onto the smart device 30, which then at leastpartially covers a home button 340, or the like, of the smart device 30.The removable pad kit 300 protects the home button 340 from accidentaltaps. In other implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the homebutton is physically separated from a display portion of the smartdevice 30. In some implementations, the home button is located within adisplay portion of the smart device 30. Again, the pad kit 300 may besecured to (or otherwise placed in position on) the smart device 30using for example, some form of adhesive that allows easily placementand removal.

The material of the removable pad kit 300 may include, but is notlimited to, rubber, silicone rubber, resins, plastic resins, polymer,synthetic materials, or the like. In addition, the material of theremovable pad kit 300 may have elastic properties and/or be flexible toenable close contact with the smart device 30 and match the aestheticappearance of the smart device 30.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the removable padkit 300 may include a carrying case 420 that fits the smart device 30.The carrying case 420 fits the smart device 30. The removable pad kit300 may comprise a flip-up lid 430. The flip-up lid 430 may have one endas a pivot that is, for example, mechanically connected to the carryingcase 420, with the other end capable of flipping up and down relative tothe smart device 30. Users may choose to put the flip-up lid 430 downonto the smart device 30, which then at least partially covers the homebutton 340 of the smart device 30, to protect the home button fromaccidental tapping. In some implementations, the flip-up lid 430 mayinclude easily detachable from the carrying case 420. In someimplementations, the flip-up lid 430 may be, for example, a Velcro®strap. In some implementations, the flip-up lid 430 can be connected tothe carrying case 420 by a living hinge or the like. When the flip-uplid 430 is flipped up away from the smart device 30, it may serve as aleg or stand to support the smart device 30 in an upright position.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the carrying case120 may include a carrying case 420 for the smart device 30. Theremovable pad kit 300 may comprise a sliding lid 440. Users may chooseto slide the sliding lid 440 onto the smart device 30 to at leastpartially cover the home button 340, or the like, of the smart device30, to protect the home button from an accidental tap. In someimplementations, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, the removable pad kit 100may comprise a slide lid 450. The slide lid 450 may be slid from side toside onto the smart device 30 to at least partially cover a home button340, or the like, of the smart device 30. In some implementations, asillustrated in FIG. 4D, the removable pad 300 may comprise a rolling lid460. Users may choose to roll the rolling lid 460 onto the smart device30 to at least partially cover a home button 340, or the like, of thesmart device 30, to protect the home button 340 from an accidental tap.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. Inthis embodiment, a removable pad kit 500 is provided for an iPad® 50.For example, when playing games or other applications on the iPad® 50,users may choose to put the removable pad 500 onto the iPad® 50 to covera home button 540. The material of the removable pad 500 may include,but is not limited to, rubber, silicone rubber, resins, plastic resins,polymer, synthetic materials, or the like. In addition, the material ofthe removable pad 500 may have elastic properties and/or be flexible toenable a snug fit with the iPad® 50 and match the aesthetic appearanceof the iPad® 50.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the carrying case620 may include a carrying case 620 for the iPad® 50. The removable pad500 may comprise a flip-up lid 630. The flip-up lid 630 may have one endas a pivot that is, for example, mechanically connected to the carryingcase 620 with the other end configured to flip up and down relative theiPad® 50. Users may choose to put the flip-up lid 630 down onto thetouch screen 510, which then at least partially covers the home button540 of the iPad® 50. In some implementations, the flip-up lid 630 mayinclude easily detachable from the carrying case 620. In someimplementations, the flip-up lid 630 may be, for example, a Velcrostrap. In some implementations, the flip-up lid 630 may be connected tothe carrying case 620 by a living hinge or the like. When the flip-uplid 630 is flipped up away from the iPad® 50, it may serve as a leg tosupport the iPad® 50 in an upright position.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the removable pad500 may include a carrying case 620 for the iPad® 50. The carrying case620 may comprise a sliding lid 640. Users may choose to slide thesliding lid 640 onto the iPad® 50 to at least partially cover the homebutton 540 of the iPad® 50. In some implementations, as illustrated inFIG. 6C, the removable pad kit 500 may comprise a slide lid 650. Theslide lid 650 may be slid from side to side onto the iPad® 50 to coverthe home button 540 of the iPad® 50. In some implementations, asillustrated in FIG. 6D, the removable pad kit 500 may comprise a rollinglid 660. Users may choose to roll the rolling lid 660 onto the iPad® 50to at least partially cover the home button 540 of the iPad® 50.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, a smart device 50may simply be fitted with a device protective case 720 b that inherentlyincludes a home button cover (e.g., a sliding cover 710 a as illustratedin FIG. 7A) that provides a casual locking mechanism on an iPhone® or aniPad® without the need for any additional parts beyond the protectivecase that is fitted with the home button cover 710 a. That is, aprotective case 720 b that is normally available to provide protectionto at least one of base, front, and side surfaces of the smart device 50may be fitted with an additional protection mechanism as illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B. In embodiments, and as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B,such a protective case may include a base feature (for protecting thebase surface), a front feature (for protecting the front surface), and aside feature (for protecting the side surfaces). In some embodiments,the protective case 720 b may include a locking mechanism (e.g., 710 a)as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Because the lockingmechanism is fitted in addition to (or atop of) a normally usedprotective case 720 b, the locking mechanism and/or the home buttoncover 710 a is “inherently” included in the protective case 720 b.

FIGS. 7B and 7C also illustrate schematic diagrams of a deviceprotective case 720 b with a sliding home button cover 710 b. Here, asillustrated in this exemplary embodiment, the cover 710 b may be fittedsuch that it slides laterally with respect to the home button. Thelateral sliding motion may be achieved using, for example, alock-and-key locking mechanism on an iPhone® or an iPad® as illustratedin FIGS. 7B and 7C. In a first example (as illustrated in FIGS. 7B and7C), the lock-unlock mechanism would require the pressing of, forexample, a stylus pen clip (or something similar) in a correspondingslot (e.g., lock release 730). In a second example, a more secureversion of the locking mechanism may be implemented. Such a setup may beuseful in, for example, an academic institution, where the institutionmay wish to prevent unlock access to the users. In such a case, it maybe envisioned that such a sliding lock mechanism may be fitted with afeature that allows the slide lock to be padlocked. Any other mechanismfor padlocking or otherwise preventing unlock access to a user, as maybe envisioned by a person of ordinary skill in the art, may also besubstituted herein.

It should be appreciated that the descriptions above are not limited intheir applications to an iPhone®, an iPad®, a Samsung Galaxy®, or aSamsung Galaxy Tab®. The descriptions are capable of adaptation to anysmart devices having the home button, or the like. According to thepresent disclosure, users may choose to cover the home button, or thelike, and enjoy playing games or using other applications on the smartdevices without being disturbed by accidentally tapping the home button,or the like. As a result, users may better enjoy the games andapplications on the smart devices.

The foregoing description has been described with reference to specificembodiments for the purpose of explanations. However, the illustrativediscussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the embodiments described. A person skilled in the art mayappreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in viewof the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A child-lock kit to control a user's access of asmart device, the kit comprising: an attachment mechanism for attachingthe child-lock kit to the smart device, the smart device having atouch-screen display portion and a non-display portion, wherein thenon-display portion includes one or more buttons that control operationof the smart device, wherein a user's tapping on at least one of the oneor more buttons of the smart devices affects content displayed withinthe display portion of the smart device; a removable pad connected tothe attachment mechanism, the removable pad having a first setting and asecond setting, the first setting enabling operation of the one or morebuttons by providing physical access to the user to tap on the one ormore buttons, the second setting preventing operation of the smartdevice via the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to theuser to tap on the one or more buttons; and a toggle mechanism forswitching the removable pad between the first setting and the secondsetting, the toggle mechanism configured such that the second setting isa child-safe state tending to prevent toggling from the second settingto the first setting.
 2. The child-lock kit of claim 1, wherein theattachment mechanism, the removable pad, and the toggle-mechanism arepart of a carrying case for the smart device.
 3. The child-lock kit ofclaim 2, wherein the carrying case further includes a connectionelement, the connection element configured such that the user canselectively attach the removable pad to the connection mechanism,enabling the user to selectively convert the carrying case to thechild-lock kit by attachment of the removable pad.
 4. The child-lock kitof claim 1, wherein the removable pad is connected to the attachmentmechanism such that the removable pad is a flip-up lid hinged to theattachment mechanism, the flip-up lid configured to at least partiallycover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a home button whenthe flip-up lid is flipped down onto the smart device.
 5. The child-lockkit of claim 4, wherein a first end portion of the flip-up lid is apivot mechanically connected to the attachment mechanism and a secondend is configured to toggle between a flip-up state and a flip-downstate, the flip-up state allowing physical access to the one or morebuttons and the flip-down state preventing physical access to the one ormore buttons in the non-display portion of the smart device.
 6. Thechild-lock of claim 5, wherein the flip-up lid, upon operation in aflip-up state, is configured to support the smart device in asubstantially upright position.
 7. The child-lock kit of claim 3,wherein the removable pad is a sliding lid that is configured to sliderelative to the attachment mechanism, the sliding lid configured to atleast partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on ahome button when the sliding lid is slid onto the smart device.
 8. Thechild-lock kit of claim 3, wherein the removable pad is a rolling lidthat is configured to roll relative to the attachment mechanism, therolling lid configured to at least partially cover the one or morebuttons to prevent tapping on a home button when the rolling lid isrolled onto the smart device.
 9. The child-lock kit of claim 1, whereinthe smart device is one of a smart phone or a tablet computing device.10. A method for child-locking a smart device to control a user's accessof the smart device, the method comprising: fitting a removable pad to acarrying case of a smart device, the carrying case for covering at leasta portion of the smart device and to prevent damage to the smart device,the smart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-displayportion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttonsthat control operation of the smart device, wherein a user's tapping onat least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affectscontent displayed within the display portion of the smart device; andattaching the removable pad to the carrying case in conjunction with atoggle mechanism, the toggle mechanism for switching the removable padbetween a first setting and a second setting relative to the smartdevice, wherein: the first setting enables operation of the one or morebuttons by providing physical access to the user to tap on the one ormore buttons, the second setting prevents operation of the smart devicevia the one or more buttons by preventing physical access to the user totap on the one or more buttons, and the toggle mechanism is configuredsuch that the second setting is a child-safe state tending to preventtoggling from the second setting to the first setting.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the removable pad is one of a flip-up lid, or asliding lid, or a rolling lid.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein thesmart device is one of a smart phone or a tablet computing device. 13.The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing a connectionmechanism to the carrying case to enable the user to selectively attachthe removing pad to the carrying case to convert the carrying case to achild-lock kit.
 14. A carrying case for a smart device, the carryingcase comprising: a base feature for protecting a rear surface of thesmart device; a front feature coupled to the base feature and configuredto cover at least a portion of a front surface of the smart device, thesmart device having a touch-screen display portion and a non-displayportion, wherein the non-display portion includes one or more buttonsthat control operation of the smart device, wherein a user's tapping onat least one of the one or more buttons of the smart devices affectscontent displayed within the display portion of the smart device; aremovable pad optionally connected to the carrying case by attachmentusing the connection element; and a connection element configured suchthat a given user can selectively attach the removable pad to theconnection mechanism, enabling the user to selectively convert thecarrying case to a child-lock kit by attachment of the removable pad,the removable pad having a first setting and a second setting, the firstsetting enabling operation of the one or more buttons by providingaccess to the user to tap on the one or more buttons, the second settingpreventing operation of the smart device via the one or more buttons bypreventing physical access to the user to tap on the one or morebuttons.
 15. The carrying case of claim 14, further comprising: a togglemechanism for switching the removable pad between the first setting andthe second setting, the toggle mechanism configured such that the secondsetting is a child-safe state tending to prevent toggling from thesecond setting to the first setting.
 16. The carrying case of claim 14,wherein the removable pad is connected to the carrying case such thatthe removable pad is a flip-up lid, the flip-up lid configured to atleast partially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on thehome button when the flip-up lid is flipped down onto the smart device.17. The carrying case of claim 15, wherein a first end portion of theflip-up lid is a pivot mechanically connected to the carrying case and asecond end is configured to toggle between a flip-up state and aflip-down state, the flip-up state allowing physical access to the oneor more buttons and the flip-down state preventing physical access tothe one or more buttons in the non-display portion of the smart device.18. The carrying case of claim 17, wherein the flip-up lid, uponoperation in a flip-up state, is configured to support the smart devicein a substantially upright position.
 19. The carrying case of claim 14,wherein the removable pad is a sliding lid that is configured to sliderelative to the carrying case, the sliding lid configured to at leastpartially cover the one or more buttons to prevent tapping on a homebutton when the sliding lid is slid onto the smart device.
 20. Thecarrying case of claim 14, wherein the removable pad is a rolling lidthat is configured to roll relative to the carrying case, the rollinglid configured to at least partially cover the one or more buttons toprevent tapping on a home button when the rolling lid is rolled onto thesmart device.